Platform: Mac, Windows

Congratulations! You're officially the worst babysitter ever. When Monica, the little girl you're supposed to be driving to her grandmother's house for a friend, gets kidnapped by evil forces in a gas station, you find yourself embroiled in one very strange family with a tragic past that just won't stay dead. Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel is ERS Game Studio's first pure adventure game that attacks its horror with such high camp and magic ghost dogs that it never really becomes scary, but is still a gorgeous and engrossing creepy experience to sink into. Just remember kids... if you absolutely must go into dark gas stations by yourself, for the love of whatever don't wear pigtails, carry a teddy-bear, and skip as your primary means of transportation. It's like wearing a big sign that tells the universe "Please kidnap me!"

Penumbra Motel has three difficulty modes to choose from, though the gameplay is relatively constant throughout. You'll explore the area, gathering items you need to solve various puzzles or get past obstacles. Your diary will keep track of current events and goals, as well as any important clues you'll come across for future reference, and the handy-dandy magic television on the opposite side of the screen will let you get a hint when you're stuck or skip puzzles. Turns out the area has a rich history of military heroes, cultural significance, and murder, and some spirits don't lie quietly. If you want to rescue little Monica, you'll need to put on your thinking cap to solve a wide variety of problems and bizarre puzzles. Or maybe you could just pick up another kid from somewhere and her parents won't notice. Kids are like goldfish, right? You can't really tell them apart. It would save you a lot of trouble, and drastically reduce your odds of "bloody murder by vicious old man ghost".

Analysis: Unless you're the sort of person who is scared by Halloween masks and wondering who was phone, Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel is too over-the-top goofy and gleeful to be scary. From the big, overly dramatic "evil dark lord" laughter to the seething masses of darkness and eyeballs blocking doorways, this game is a trip. Largely a pretty good one at that. The story is morbid, but so packed full of evil, wacky mysticism you really only have to worry about the occasional jump scare. The area designs are seriously creative, and a real joy to explore. Flickering lights, rich use of colour, otherworldly occurrences all combine to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a particularly surreal Tales from the Dark Side episode, and it's a lot of fun to experience even if it never feels particularly deep. It's the perfect choice for people looking for a really casual gaming experience with the sort of polish ERS delivers, but without all that hidden-object hunting you might not care for.

Since Penumbra Motel is essentially a straight-up adventure game with nothing so tedious as a hidden-object scene to bog you down, the gameplay moves at a brisk pace. Unfortunately, that also means you'll encounter a lot more frustrating adventure game concepts, like gathering up multiple items for a single task that shouldn't even be an obstacle to begin with, obscure object uses, and a lot of backtracking. Luckily, the game features a lot of puzzles and some fairly imaginative versions of them, leaving you challenged but rarely outright stymied. As an experimental foray into the world of straight adventuring, Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel succeeds more than it fails and delivers a cheesy, highly detailed, cinematic experience fans of schlock horror will enjoy. As always, try the demo and see if it whets your appetite before you buy, but if you're a fan of ERS and are looking for something to fill four hours or so, you can do a lot worse than this campy adventure.

A Collector's Edition is also available. It contains a bonus chapter, art gallery, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Hard: Active areas are not indicated. The hint and skip options recharge slowly.

Advanced: Active areas are not indicated. The hint and skip options recharge very slowly. Tips are not available.

There is a Help tab that informs you of what to expect from gameplay.

There is a Credits tab where you can view the makers of the game.

The Extras tab has multiple goodies only available in the Collector's Edition.

Gameplay

On your screen:

On the bottom left is the Goals tab, which tells you the different goals you must achieve in the game.

Under the Goals tab is the Diary tab, which keeps important information you have discovered along your journey.

On the bottom left is the Menu tab, which gives you the Options tab and allows you to change your preferences, or quit the game.

In the middle at the bottom of the screen is your Inventory, which collapses when the cursor is not hovering over it.

On the bottom right is the hint button.

Under the hint button is a little box which holds film reels you will collect. You can watch the films by clicking on the box.

When hovering over an item or area that can be investigated, the cursor will change to a magnifying glass.

If you can pick an item up, the cursor will change to a grasping hand.

If an object needs to have an inventory item used on it, the cursor will change to two gears connected.

If you can move into a new area, the cursor will change into a directional arrow.

There is no map in the game.

Chapter One: The Gas Station

Opening the Cash Register

Speak with the man standing ahead of you.

Click on the trunk of the car to inspect it.

Pick up the glue and the picture of the little girl.

Zoom in on the bulletin board near the gas pumps.

Pick up the hook and read the information about the Penum family.

Click on the right window that has no shutters. Click on the trunk on the ground to move it. Pick up the tape.

Zoom in on the red square on the side of the building with the tools.

Place glue on the stick with the broken end. Place the hook on the broken end. Wrap the tape around the hook. You receive a pole.

Investigate the dog house and use the pole to retrieve the key.

Zoom in on the doorknob of the door and use the key on the lock. Click to unlock.

Go through the door.

Click on the door with the shadowy figure. Once the door shuts, zoom in on the payphone.

Pick up the phone, then hang it up.

Examine the bottom of the dresser and pick up the brick.

Inspect the fake person behind the cash register. Use the pole on the ceiling fan to cut the man loose.

Zoom in on the faux person and pick up the two buttons.

Click on the cash register twice and place both buttons in the missing spots to start a puzzle. You must click all the buttons until they display numbers, and you must click them in the proper numerical order.

Zoom in on the fish and use the nippers to cut the wiring around it. Pick up the fish.

Investigate the hatch on the floor from where you picked up the stool and use the nippers on the wiring keeping the hatch shut.

Pick up the family photo and the tire iron.

Go back once and examine the cat on the car. Place the fish in the food bowl.

Move back once and zoom in on the car nearest the hotel. Use the tire iron to pop open the hood. Pick up the belt.

Investigate the engine of the red car and place the belt on the engine.

Go into the building with the man and give him the family photo.

Take the photo back from him to receive a paper clip.

Opening the Path to the Hotel

Before leaving, talk to the man once more to hear his request for something to drink.

Go back to the car that the cat had originally been sitting on and use the paper clip on the trunk to open it up.

Pick up the bottle with drink, the rope, and the film reel.

Return to the building with the man and zoom in on the desk. Pour the bottle with drink into the glass. You receive a glass.

Give the man the glass with the drink in it.

Grab the dropped scissors.

Use the scissors to cut the rope that's holding the iron next to the window.

Examine the desk and pick up the iron.

Click on the box on the desk to open it and grab the car keys and the war medal.

Go back once and zoom in on the rope on the street. Place the rope on the hook to connect them.

Get in the car and place the car keys in the ignition. Click to turn the car on.

Inspect the opened hatch to start a puzzle.

You want to connect like colored fuses to start the car up. On the right side are switches for colors that you'll flip to move a specific color. There are arrows above the switches that you will use to move the switches in the proper direction.

Click the green switch and move it left twice, down twice, then up once. Press on the switch to turn it off so you don't move that color.

Click on the blue switch and move it up once, then left once.

Click the red switch and move it left twice, down four times, right twice, up twice, down once, left twice, up three times, up once, and down once.

Click the yellow switch and move it down once.

Click the red switch and move it right once.

Click the blue switch and move it right once, down three times, left once, right once, and up once.

Click the yellow switch and move it right twice, up twice, down once, and left once.

Place the iron on the gas pedal to make the car take off and move the car that was blocking the path to the hotel.

Getting to the Cinema

Go up the stairs.

Examine the bushes to the left. Click on the ribbon, then click on the toolbox. Click on the toolbox twice, once to clear away leaves.

Pick up the nail puller and the heating element.

Attempt going up the stairs a second time.

Go back once and into the building with the man.

Zoom in on the table with the teapot and place the heating element on the electric stove.

Click on the kettle to move it on the stove, then press on the switch to turn it on.

Pick up the kettle to receive boiling water.

Place both stools on the ground below the ruined ceiling.

Examine the ceiling and pick up the hammer.

Go back once, then move left. Examine the board leaning against the trailer and pour the boiling water on the pitch.

Use the nail puller on any one of the nails, then click to pick all the nails up. Click on the wood to receive boards.

Go back to the staircase and move up. Zoom in on the broken part of the stairs and place the boards down first.

Put the nails on the boards, then use the hammer to complete the new stairs.

Go up.

Investigate the gate and pick up the newspaper article on the stone column to the right.

Go left towards the gazebo.

Zoom in on the bannister and click multiple times to release the door handle. Pick it up once it falls.

Examine the bench and pick up the handkerchief. Take note of the initials carved into the bench.

Look into the binocculars to start a puzzle. Rotate the circles so that the outside circle matches the corresponding numbers in the inner circle.

Hard: Active areas are not indicated. The hint and skip options recharge slowly.

Advanced: Active areas are not indicated. The hint and skip options recharge very slowly. Tips are not available.

There is a Help tab that informs you of what to expect from gameplay.

There is a Credits tab where you can view the makers of the game.

The Extras tab has multiple goodies only available in the Collector's Edition.

Gameplay

On your screen:

On the bottom left is the Goals tab, which tells you the different goals you must achieve in the game.

Under the Goals tab is the Diary tab, which keeps important information you have discovered along your journey.

On the bottom left is the Menu tab, which gives you the Options tab and allows you to change your preferences, or quit the game.

In the middle at the bottom of the screen is your Inventory, which collapses when the cursor is not hovering over it.

On the bottom right is the hint button.

Under the hint button is a little box which holds film reels you will collect. You can watch the films by clicking on the box.

When hovering over an item or area that can be investigated, the cursor will change to a magnifying glass.

If you can pick an item up, the cursor will change to a grasping hand.

If an object needs to have an inventory item used on it, the cursor will change to two gears connected.

If you can move into a new area, the cursor will change into a directional arrow.

There is no map in the game.

Chapter One: The Gas Station

Opening the Cash Register

Speak with the man standing ahead of you.

Click on the trunk of the car to inspect it.

Pick up the glue and the picture of the little girl.

Zoom in on the bulletin board near the gas pumps.

Pick up the hook and read the information about the Penum family.

Click on the right window that has no shutters. Click on the trunk on the ground to move it. Pick up the tape.

Zoom in on the red square on the side of the building with the tools.

Place glue on the stick with the broken end. Place the hook on the broken end. Wrap the tape around the hook. You receive a pole.

Investigate the dog house and use the pole to retrieve the key.

Zoom in on the doorknob of the door and use the key on the lock. Click to unlock.

Go through the door.

Click on the door with the shadowy figure. Once the door shuts, zoom in on the payphone.

Pick up the phone, then hang it up.

Examine the bottom of the dresser and pick up the brick.

Inspect the fake person behind the cash register. Use the pole on the ceiling fan to cut the man loose.

Zoom in on the faux person and pick up the two buttons.

Click on the cash register twice and place both buttons in the missing spots to start a puzzle. You must click all the buttons until they display numbers, and you must click them in the proper numerical order.

Zoom in on the fish and use the nippers to cut the wiring around it. Pick up the fish.

Investigate the hatch on the floor from where you picked up the stool and use the nippers on the wiring keeping the hatch shut.

Pick up the family photo and the tire iron.

Go back once and examine the cat on the car. Place the fish in the food bowl.

Move back once and zoom in on the car nearest the hotel. Use the tire iron to pop open the hood. Pick up the belt.

Investigate the engine of the red car and place the belt on the engine.

Go into the building with the man and give him the family photo.

Take the photo back from him to receive a paper clip.

Opening the Path to the Hotel

Before leaving, talk to the man once more to hear his request for something to drink.

Go back to the car that the cat had originally been sitting on and use the paper clip on the trunk to open it up.

Pick up the bottle with drink, the rope, and the film reel.

Return to the building with the man and zoom in on the desk. Pour the bottle with drink into the glass. You receive a glass.

Give the man the glass with the drink in it.

Grab the dropped scissors.

Use the scissors to cut the rope that's holding the iron next to the window.

Examine the desk and pick up the iron.

Click on the box on the desk to open it and grab the car keys and the war medal.

Go back once and zoom in on the rope on the street. Place the rope on the hook to connect them.

Get in the car and place the car keys in the ignition. Click to turn the car on.

Inspect the opened hatch to start a puzzle.

You want to connect like colored fuses to start the car up. On the right side are switches for colors that you'll flip to move a specific color. There are arrows above the switches that you will use to move the switches in the proper direction.

Click the green switch and move it left twice, down twice, then up once. Press on the switch to turn it off so you don't move that color.

Click on the blue switch and move it up once, then left once.

Click the red switch and move it left twice, down four times, right twice, up twice, down once, left twice, up three times, up once, and down once.

Click the yellow switch and move it down once.

Click the red switch and move it right once.

Click the blue switch and move it right once, down three times, left once, right once, and up once.

Click the yellow switch and move it right twice, up twice, down once, and left once.

Place the iron on the gas pedal to make the car take off and move the car that was blocking the path to the hotel.

Getting to the Cinema

Go up the stairs.

Examine the bushes to the left. Click on the ribbon, then click on the toolbox. Click on the toolbox twice, once to clear away leaves.

Pick up the nail puller and the heating element.

Attempt going up the stairs a second time.

Go back once and into the building with the man.

Zoom in on the table with the teapot and place the heating element on the electric stove.

Click on the kettle to move it on the stove, then press on the switch to turn it on.

Pick up the kettle to receive boiling water.

Place both stools on the ground below the ruined ceiling.

Examine the ceiling and pick up the hammer.

Go back once, then move left. Examine the board leaning against the trailer and pour the boiling water on the pitch.

Use the nail puller on any one of the nails, then click to pick all the nails up. Click on the wood to receive boards.

Go back to the staircase and move up. Zoom in on the broken part of the stairs and place the boards down first.

Put the nails on the boards, then use the hammer to complete the new stairs.

Go up.

Investigate the gate and pick up the newspaper article on the stone column to the right.

Go left towards the gazebo.

Zoom in on the bannister and click multiple times to release the door handle. Pick it up once it falls.

Examine the bench and pick up the handkerchief. Take note of the initials carved into the bench.

Look into the binocculars to start a puzzle. Rotate the circles so that the outside circle matches the corresponding numbers in the inner circle.

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